Rain pipe trap



May 29, 1951 J. F. sAMlDE 2,554,797

RAIN PIPE TRAP Filed Feb. l2, 1949 l i IN1/H ToR. Jafm/ F. JAM/0f I Armen/5x5.

Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIN PIPE TRAP Joseph Samia@ Cleveland, Ohio ApplicationFebruary 12, 1949, serial No. 76,107

This invention relates to a trap or strainer for the downspout of a building, to the manner of its use in the water-removal system of which the downspout forms part, and to the combination of elements making up such system, including the gutter, the downspout, the strainer associated with the downspout, the crock into which the downspout discharges, and the drain to which the crock is connected.

In systems in which no strainer is employed, leaves, twigs, insects and other debris caught by the gutter pass through the downspout into the crock and thence into the drain, which is usually some-four to six feet below ground level adjacent the wall of the basement or underneath the basement floor. In such circumstances, the debris passing from the downspout into the drain tends to accumulate below the crock, sometimes creat ing an obstruction in the drain sufficient to bring about complete stoppage of flow. When this occurs, overflow from the system falls on the vsiding of the building, basement walls become water- 'logged, and dampness, rotting and the odor of decaying organic matter are prevalent throughout the year.

Correction of this state of affairs usually requires expensive excavation, sometimes accom'- panied by the necessity of breaking through the wall or floor of the basement to reach the point in the drain at which the obstruction has formed. Removal of the obstruction may afford only temporary relief for the reason that the condition which brought about lits formation can and usually does recur. To lremedy this condition may require a reductionin the density of the trees .in the locality, with attendant loss 4of trees desired for shade.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a strainer of a kind that may be inserted in such a system to obviate these diiliculties-l Another object of the invention is to provide a strainer, that, when so inserted in the system, will serve to collect the leaves, twigs and other debris at a point from which they may conveniently be removed lbefore they have had an opportunity to pass below ground level. Another object of the invention is to provide a strainer which permits observation of the amount of accumulated debris and its ready removal through a lateral opening and an associated closure extending .from a point near the top to a point near the bottom of the strainer. Still another object of the invention is to provide a strainer in which rain water cannot accumulate to freeze in winter with consequent damage to the strainer.

3 Claims. (Cl. 2150-90.)

4 outlet collars previously mentioned, may con- Other objects and advantages of the invention will be detailed in or apparent from the descrip tion which follows, taken with the accompanying drawing. In such drawing, Figure l represents a front elevation, with parts broken away, of a strainer constituting the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 represents a corresponding end elevation as seen from the right in Figure l. Figures 3 and 4 are like views of a modiiied form of strainer coming within the purview of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l and 2, strainer IU is inserted in the system between an upper part I la and a lower part IIb of a downspout of rectangular cross-section, the downspout being connected at its upper end to a gutter (not shown). Between upper portion IIa of the downspout and strainer Il] is a double elbow I2, likewise of rectangular crosssection. The upper end o f such elbow receives the lower end of portion IIa of the downspout. The opposite end thereof is received in a correspondingly shaped rectangular inletV collar on strainer IIJ. At its lower end, strainer II] has a similarly shaped outlet collar which extends into lower portion IIb of the downspout. The latter is received in a round crock I 3 and held in position ther-ein by cement I4. Below crock I3 is a drain (not shown) passing alongside or under the house with which the system -is used.

Strainer Ill takes the Aform of a casing having an oblong cross-section which, in practice, m-ay conveniently measure about 6 inches on its long sides and about 21/2 inches on its short sides. The strainer proper, not including the inlet and veniently measure about 10 inches from top to bottom. It consists, among other things, of a horizontal top wall 2l having therewith associated rectangular inlet collar 22; a bottom wall 2 3, which may be horizontal but is shown in the drawing as inclined, with which is associated rectangular outlet collar 24; and side walls made up of a front wall 25, a rear wall 26 and end walls 21 and 2 8. Inlet and outlet collars 22 Iand 24 measure 3 inches across front and back and 2% inches along their sides, so that their aggregate areas equal that of the cross-section of strainer Il). They constitute prolongations or extensions of the side walls of the strainer.

A foraminous inner wall 2S, preferably of 1/4, M3 or 11e mesh screen, divides the casing into two vertical compartments. One, inlet compartment A, has substantially vvthe same cross-sectional area as inlet collar 22; the other, outlet that of outlet compartment B. The inclination. from the horizontal is from 10 to20 degrees, pref-V erably about 15 degrees; so that the inclined angle between the foraminous wall 23 and the inclined portion of bottom wall 23 is about 75 degrees.

In the portion of front Wall 25 adjoining inlet compartment A is an opening 30 which, as seen from the front of the casing, is substantially coextensive with the inlet compartment, such opening being provided for the purpose of permitting ready access to inlet compartment A for the removal of leaves, twigs and other debris that accumulates at the bottom of the inlet compartment near the base of foraminous wall 29. Opening 30 is normally closed by a hinged closure 3| consisting of a frame 32 in which is received a transparent glass or plastic panel 33. Closure 3| is held in place on front wall 25 of the casing by inserting and screwing in place winged fasteners 35 of the nature of screw-threaded bolts that project into and are received by nuts 34 that are soldered, brazed or otherwise fastened in place, immediately adjoining opening 30 therein, inside front wall 25 of strainer I0.

As indicated in Figure 2, upon removal of fasteners 35, closure 3| may be swung about a horizontal axis to an elevated position, thus permitting ready access to the debris accumulated at the bottom of inlet compartment A. Closure 3| pivots on a hinge consisting of a saddle 36 which is soldered, brazed or otherwise affixed to frame 32, a circular or semi-'circular retainer 31 which is similarly affixed to inlet collar 32, and a pin 38 extending through retainer 31 and projecting on both sides thereof into the aligned portions of saddle 36. A knob 39 may be provided, if desired, at or near the end of closure 3|.

With this arrangement, it is possible to observe from a distance whether the debris that has accumulated is present in an amount making its removal necessary or desirable. If removal is indicated, it becomes a simple matter to unscrew fasteners 35, swing closure 3| to an elevated position, and remove the debris. Thereupon, closure 3| may be returned to its original position, after which fasteners 35 may be screwed in place to hold the closure in the desired position. If desired, a rubber or cork gasket 4|] may be included to provide a tight joint between front wall 25 and closure 3|, such gasket having openings through which fasteners 35 can pass.

In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4, a strainer 50 of somewhat diilerent construction is inserted between downspout II and crock I3, the inlet collar at the upper portions of the strainer receiving the downspout and the outlet collar at the lower portion thereof projecting into the crock. By virtue of the fact that the inlet collar and the outlet collar are located in alignment with each other, it becomes unnecessary to employ an elbow in conjunction with the strainer. In the interests of simplicity of construction, the outlet collar on strainer 50 of Figures 3 and 4 is about twice as long as the outlet collar on strainer' I in the embodiment of the invention shown inV Figures 1 and 2, thus permitting the insertion ofl the outlet collar directly into crock I 3 without requiring use of an additional piece of downspout comparable to lower portion I Ib of Figures 1 and 2. Crock I3 discharges into drain I5 as indicated in dotted lines.

Strainer 50 consists of a horizontal top wall 5I in which is formed inlet collar 52; an underlying bottom wall 53 in which is formed outlet collar 54; and front wall 55, rear wall 56 and side walls 51 and 58. Collars 52 and 54 in part constitute prolongations of rear wall 56 and left side wall 51. Inlet collar 52 projects upward to receive downspout IIa; outlet collar 54 projects downward into crock I3. Preferably, but not necessarily, bottom wall 53 is inclined about 15 from the horizontal in the manner shown in Figure 3.

'IISA Conveniently, strainer 50 is nearly square in cross-section, measuring for example, about 41/4 inches across the front. and back thereof and about 4 inches along either side. The overall length, not including inlet and outlet collars, may conveniently be about 10 inches. The collars measure about 3 inches across the front and 21/2 inches as seen from the side. 'I'hey are located in alignment toward the left rear of strainer 50.

Extending transversely from front to rear of casing 5U is a foraminous inner wall 59, preferably of 1A", 1/8 or le" mesh screen, which at its lower end is soldered to and supported by bale 60 having therein a series of ports 6I. Baflle 60 is inclined from the horizontal by approximately 15 degrees, so that the included angle between foraminous inner wall 59 and baffle 60 is approximately degrees. Inner wall 59 serves to divide the strainer 59 into two compartments, an inlet compartment A' which measures 3 inches across the front and 4 inches in depth and an outlet compartment B which measures 11A; inches across the front and 4 inches in depth. Outlet compartment B extends under baffle 60 as shown in Figure 3.

In the portion of front wall 55 which adjoins inlet compartment A' is an opening 10 extending from a point near the top to a point near the bottom of strainer 50. Such opening permits access to debris accumulating on bafe 60. It is closed by a slide 1I having a semi-circular grasping portion 12 formed near the upper part thereof. Both slide 1I and grasping portion 12 may be of glass or molded of transparent plastic such as methyl methacrylate resin. Slide 1| is held in place by lateral guide members 13 and 14,V

wall which separates the inlet compartment from the outlet compartment in each of the two embodiments of the invention shown in the drawing. Other materials, including stainless steel, Monel metal, aluminum alloys and even synthetic resins, may be used throughout. However, the preferred process of fabrication is vtol make use of steel parts, spot-weld them to form a unit, and then galvanize the entire unit by a dipping process. Such a unit may be made up at small cost, yet will have a long useful life.

It is apparent that numerous changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit thereof as defined in the appended claims. Thus closure 3| in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 may, if desired, be located in end Wall 28 rather than in front wall 25; similarly, it need not necessarily take the form of hinged closure but may, if desired, take the form of a slide closure or a closure of any other desired sort. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, a hinged closure may be used, such closure being located in front Wall 55 where slide 'll appears, or, if desired, in side wall 51. Other changes will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

In use, a strainer so made up is inserted in and becomes part of the system for removing rain water from a building. Rain water will pass through the foraminous inner wall of the strainer without accumulating in substantial quantity at the base of the inlet compartment: thus there is no body of water which in cold weather can freeze to do damage to the strainer or its parts. Leaves, twigs, insects and other debris passing into the downspout will accumulate at the bottom of the inlet compartment until such time as their removal is effected. Immediate and easy access may be had to the inlet compartment, from which may be removed, from time to time, such debris as has accumulated. The latter is prevented from passing into the crock and drain therewith associated and, in consequence, from creating a stoppage below the ground line with attendant flooding of the system and development of dampness, rotting and the odors of decaying organic matter in the building or its basement.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

I claim:

1. A downspout trap comprising an elongated box-like casing having top, bottom and side portions, the body of said casing between the top and bottom portions thereof being of generally rectangular cross-section; means at the top portion of the casing forming an inlet; means at the bottom portion of the casing forming an outlet; an elongated inlet compartment extending vertically of the casing beneath said inlet and an elongated outlet compartment extending vertically of the casing above said outlet, said inlet and outlet compartments extending in parallel relation from the top portion to the bottom portion of the casing; a common wall comprising an elongated screen separating the inlet and outlet compartments from each other, said common wall extending vertically from the means forming the inlet .at the top portion of the casing to the means forming the outlet at the bottom portion of the casing and extending laterally across the casing between opposed side portions; means at the base of the common wall forming a transverse balile at the bottom of the inlet compartment on which incoming debris can accumulate pending its removal from the casing; and, formed in the side portion of the casing, a full-length closure providing access to the inlet compartment for the removal of debris accumulating on the transverse baille at the base ofthe common wall.

2. A downspout trap as in claim 1 in which the means forming the inlet and the means forming the outlet are in alignment with each other.

3. A downspout trap as in claim 1 in which the means forming the inlet and the means forming the outlet are out of alignment with each other.

JOSEPH F. SAMIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,649 Levy June 7, 1910 1,641,938 Traut Sept. 6, 1927 2,419,501 Pinto Apr. 22, 1947 

